Hamaland Route – An original discovery trail that makes connections

The Hamaland Route, a border-crossing cultural and historical experience tour of roughly 250 km, runs from Northwest Münsterland and into the east of the Netherlands in search of a 3rd century Germanic tribe. This route through the Hamaland region is suitable for drivers, cyclists, walkers and even for rollerbladers along certain stretches.

…

The Hamaland Route builds a bridge from the past to the present. It runs through the most beautiful parts of Saxony's ancient counties and the areas along the current and former Dutch-German borders to picturesque Münsterland and the Dutch regions of Achterhoek and Twente.

A route seldom travelled

That's all about to change! The waters and skies define the countryside of Hamaland where you will encounter typical Münsterland parkland and a vivid blend of tree groves, fields and meadows surrounded by hedges and flanked by endless tree-lined avenues. All along the route, your eyes will feast upon quaint villages with their photogenic half-timbered buildings, medieval estates, mysterious abbeys, old manors, Münsterland's characteristic moated palaces and a wealth of romantic castles.

Cross the border

Crossing the border, you will be welcomed by the many historic windmills and watermills that are strewn across the so-called "low country". It is also worth taking a detour to visit the "wild horses" owned by the Duke of Croy (Duke von Croy), which are bred in the Merfelder Bruch area west of the town of Dülmen. In summer months, visitors can gaze in wonder at the 250 free-roaming horses that graze on the meadows and pastures here, a sight that is without equal in Central Europe.

A journey from the past to the present

The Hamaland Route builds a bridge from the past to the present. Get to know a foreign culture and discover how the landscapes and cultures, nature and architecture of the Hamaland compare to their neighbours and how they differ.